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Stanford grad student dies in Yosemite fall Friday afternoon

Stanford University student and climbing enthusiast Christina "Chris" Chan died Friday afternoon after falling from the north face of Eichorn Peak in Yosemite during a "free soloing" climb about 400 feet up sheer rock wall. Chan, a fourth-year graduate student in political science, was 2008 co-president of the Stanford Alpine Club.

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Comments (16)

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Posted by sean
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Jul 13, 2010 at 7:03 pm

sad. beautiful, young, not to smart though.im suprised the death rate for this type of accident is not higher, chacha.com says "On average there are nine rock climbing fatalities per year in the United States. Thanks for asking ChaCha"

r.i.p im sure there are a ton of people who will mourn for a very long time.

yeah i agree, i guess im wondering if climbing without support (a rope) is done for excitement, or does it make the climb that much better? or both? why would someone do this, when you could use a teather? and was she a "most skilled of climbers?" my friend adam holton was killed from a similar injury about 12 years ago (google it) and when i found out i thought he made a stupid decision.why do this?

why the hell would you want to climb a rock?
why the hell would you want to climb a rock?
why the hell would you want to climb a rock?
why the hell would you want to climb a rock?
why the hell would you want to climb a rock?

Posted by Sane Person
a resident of Whisman Station
on Jul 14, 2010 at 9:34 am

It either doesn't occur to these 'climbers' the ubiquitousness of gravity poisoning or they have so much hubris and are so 'into' climbing.

If it is one thing I can't stand is some overachiever who likes sticking their 'accomplishments' in the face of us lessers. At the rate this country is going at least she avoids the guillotine unlike the rest of the elites.

Posted by Turner Woodruff
a resident of another community
on Jul 14, 2010 at 10:35 am

Christina was a brilliant, extraordinary individual who excelled intellectually, physically, and musically in the most rarefied environments, yet her HUMBLE, KIND, UNASSUMING nature belied her numerous impressive accomplishments. She was loved and admired by everyone who knew her. Her loss is raw, excruciatingly painful, and monumentally tragic. Her trajectory was boundless as is the depth of this loss.

To the persons who felt it necessary to question her mental capacity and her "fitness": Next time consider your audience. Is a memorial article an appropriate forum for airing your criticisms of elitists or overachievers without common sense? To those who knew her, the idea of comparing her to either is laughable--if we could bare to summon a laugh. Christina knew what she was doing. And, we all make mistakes. Tragically, this one was fatal.

To the persons who felt it necessary to question her mental capacity and her "fitness": Next time consider your audience

you should consider where you are (internet forum), people (like myself) are just wondering why? she was at the peak of her life and to gamble everything for recreation doesnt make sense to me, does it to you?

Posted by The Eye
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Jul 14, 2010 at 11:33 am

Proof positive that advanced education and common sense do not always occur in the same individual. Sad, but true. Whenever I read a story like this, I can't help but think: "Intelligent, but stupid." Call it what you want, but this is just Darwin's Law at work, whether you like it or not. Go ahead and flame me...It won't change the facts...or bring her back.

You people are ridiculous. A young woman just lost her life and you are questioning her for climbing a rock? How about show some sorrow and/or keep your smart-a** comments for your fb page? Get off your soapbox.

Posted by le dude
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Jul 14, 2010 at 3:59 pm

I disagree with the last two posters. People should question the stupidity or whatever you want to call it. Of course everyone feels sorry for the parents. But that's not the glaring point of this article when you read it. As for her so-called friends who would not step forward and put an end to such supremely risky behavior, shame on you all. At what point did this woman owe a sense of responsibility to the very same society that enabled her to reach the heights of educational opportunity? This accident was 100% avoidable. Such climbing should be outlawed on State and Federal land.